Tag: healthy travel

Welcome to 2016 with some New Year Healthy Travel finds! If you’re not aware, I publish Healthy Travel Magazine which I’ll hope you will start to follow here for the latest and greatest news in wellness travel. The new year presents an opportunity to treset intentions for a healthier, happier year ahead. Kick off 2016 on the right foot with wellness getaways, ranging from meditation-inspired spa treatments to luxury fitness retreats. Here are some of my top recommendations:

The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villasin Bali, Indonesia has recently launched a new lifestyle wellness program that is the perfect experience for those looking to head into 2016 with a clear mind and body. The program includes personal attention, luxury amenities, and a myriad of activities that embrace fitness, sensible dining and holistic achievement. Travelers and yogi enthusiasts alike can recharge, rebalance and explore their yoga practice within the beauty of the gentle Balinese culture at The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas. Located on the majestic coastline of Nusa Dua, the full-day (five to six hours) or half-day (four hours) wellness program features a specially designed wellness menu and training regimen that is designed to nurture and restore well-being.

Full-Day or Half-Day Lifestyle Wellness Program includes:

Full-day (five to six hours) and half-day (four hours) options

Option to experience wellness program from one to seven days

Customized Healthy Dining Options

Yoga Stretching Class

Aqua Aerobics Class

Signature treatment options including facial treatments and a blend of unique massage techniques

Access to the signature Wellness Suite including Asia Pacific’s only Ice Room

Visits to the local temples, walks on the white sand beach, and experiencing the picturesque sunsets

The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, Miami helps its guests stay healthy in 2016 with the “Wonderful Wellness” package. All tension will melt away with a deep tissue massage, followed by some pampering with a classic pedicure. To really round off a complete wellness experience, guests will receive a personal training session with an expert trainer to refine their workout routine, and can partake in their choice of a group fitness class.

L’Auberge de Sedona is a wellness seeker’s dream come true, set among enchanting Red Rock formations that offer a peaceful and stunning backdrop for yoga and mediation, as well as experiencing the region’s famous energy vortex centers. In 2016, travelers are invited to take advantage of L’Auberge de Sedona’s Red Rock Renewal package, which has been designed to provide guests with a chance to disconnect and take time to recenter for the new year. As part of this two-night stay, guests will be treated to a 60-minute Forest Bathing session, or opt for a private yoga or meditation session instead. The package also includes a dining credit and $300 spa credit, which can be used towards the resort’s signature Quiet Mind spa treatment, which teaches guests meditation-inspired breathing techniques to help them shut off their thoughts and enjoy the present moment.

Forest Bathing, also know as “Shinrin-Yoku,” draws on the traditions of mindfulness and is rooted in a range of transcultural practices that recognize the benefits that time in nature can have a positive and healing effect on human health and happiness. Guests will find a true sense of connection with the earth that will not only deepen their relationship with nature, but with themselves as well.

$300 credit at the Spa at L’Auberge, to experience the Quiet Mind massage or another treatment of their choice

Inspired by the Quiet Mind flower essence blend from Lotus Wei, the Quiet Mind treatment is designed to assist guests in learning to turn off their mind and fully experience their massage. The flower essences include Geranium, Bird of Paradise and Passion Flower, to support the guest in letting go of distraction and dissolving muscle tension. Guests will learn simple guided breathing techniques while the therapist attunes facial acupressure points. As the mind calms the guest will experience a deeply relaxing massage, without their mind interrupting.

Spanning 45 lush acres of gardens, trails, olive groves, casitas and more, this Mediterranean inspired, all-suite property offers the finest accommodations, service and programming that San Diego has to offer. Every detail at Rancho Valencia is meticulously tailored to create the ultimate destination for wellness and tranquility, starting with the basics like freshly-made organic fruit and vegetable juices to a Yoga Pavilion, Pilates studio, advanced exercise programs, and fitness sessions hosted by top-tier wellness professionals. Rancho Valencia is the perfect place to resent in the new year with The Stay & Play Spa package. With a variety of unique therapies and treatments, guests will find a soothing balance for the mind, body, and soul. The Stay & Play Spa package offers a $175 spa credit per guest, perfect for a massage or a rejuvenating facial.

Situated on Montauk’s most pristine stretch of oceanfront real estate, Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa is a Hampton’s institution and the only four-season resort in Montauk. Gurney’s has partnered with Wellthily, NYC’s premier healthy hospitality company, to help redefine the the health scene in Montauk. The collaboration will deliver fitness classes to Gurney’s from New York’s top fitness trainers to guests, locals and visitors to the Hamptons. Fitness programming will include classes and retreats throughout 2016 such as Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Cyc Fitness Indoor Cycling, Elements Fitness Barre Fitness and Exhale Spa Core Fusion Barre. All of this will be in addition to Gurney’s own fitness schedule, which will still be offered daily. Following your workout, relax at The Seawater Spa, featuring Roman baths, Finnish rock sauna, fitness center, and a world-famous indoor sand-filtered, ocean-fed, heated seawater pool – the only one of its kind in North America. All with stunning, panoramic views of the ocean.

Rancho La Puerta is the original “fitness resort” and spa that welcomes some 140 guests each week to its 3,000 private acres of gardens, mountains and meadows in Baja California, Mexico. All facilities and land are for the exclusive use of guests who come for an entire week, Saturday to Saturday, or partial-week stays of three or four nights. It’s a unique reawakening and spiritual mental escape for women and men offering space to breathe freely amidst nature and to relax, renew, reflect and redirect one’s longer-living life for a complete mind, body, and spirit balance. In addition, the Ranch offers over 80 fitness classes including TRX, yoga, pilates and advanced hiking trails as well as spa treatments, therapeutic sessions and daily lectures to inspire guests to leave with a recharged sense of being. Specialty weeks at the Ranch are offered year-round, featuring visiting guest speakers, talented performers and workshop leaders—authors, politicians, musicians, artists, MDs and other leaders in their fields — to present afternoon learning experiences and evening lectures.

Escape into pristine nature among the scenic mountains of British Columbia while experiencing Mountain Trek’s all-inclusive luxury fitness and health spa retreat to reset habits and begin the journey toward a healthier lifestyle in 2016. Set in spectacular natural landscapes, guests are treated to an ultra personalized program where time is spent focusing on activities including hiking, yoga, massage and detox treatments, and a variety of fitness and nutrition classes including: lectures on stress management, nutrition, sleep health, metabolism, detoxification, goal setting and personal will power. A true backcountry experience where guests get back to basics, Mountain Trek’s wellness retreat immerses guests in scenery you cannot find near most urban cities, while taking a holistic approach toward resetting individual’s metabolism, and providing a every guest with the opportunity for hormonal rebalance, and mind, body and spirit renewal.

Below, are expert tips from Lead Guide and Program Director, Kirkland Shave, on how to keep resolutions:

Weave subtle changes into daily life to create long lasting change, and reward yourself with each step

Make healthy food visible by keeping a fruit bowl on the counter and chopped veggies, such as carrots, in a bowl of water in the fridge. This way when you go to open it to grab something, the first thing you’ll see are beta-carotene rich, crispy carrots.

Focus on providing yourself with adequate sleep. Do so by exercising after sleep rather than before (when you wake up in the morning is best), and powering down computers, phones, TVs, and bright light exposure prior to sleeping, and relaxing with an epsom salt bath before bed.

It is almost October, and a new travel trend is that hotels are “thinking pink” this year by offering special programs and packages to honor National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From spa discounts to lavish breast cancer and pink events, here are six hotels that are thinking pink:

The majestic Resort at Pedregal lies on Cabo San Lucas’ most coveted parcel of land – a stunning site carved into a cliff on 24 mountainside and pristine oceanfront acres at the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, The Resort at Pedregal, in partnership with Clase Azul, is offering three exclusive pink bottles of the special tequila selling for $500 a bottle and $30 a shot where all proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation, the only property in Mexico to have this rare bottle. In addition, The resort is offering its signature Pink Kiss cocktail made with vodka, strawberries infused aperol, fresh pineapple juice, raspberry puree and homemade citrus syrup topped off with a lime wedge.

On October 10th, The Palms Turks & Caicos will host its 7th annual “In the Pink” event to raise money for TCI’s Cancer Society. The “In the Pink” event is one of the hottest social events Turks and Caicos has seen. The Palms’ General Manager, Karen Whitt, (committee chairperson and creator of the unique event) helps organize the event for locals and guests alike, in which they host a shopping paradise and a lavish party on property with music, cocktails and giveaways. With donations from corporate businesses and individuals, the team will transform several of the guest suites into a (shopping paradise – need different word used this earlier) , allowing buyers to snag excellent bargains on a wide selection of new and gently used clothing, shoes, accessories and even some designer items. After the shopping zone closes, the fun continues with a superb after-party in the elegantly pink- decorated courtyard in front of the famed Parallel 23 restaurant. The after-party includes live music and charming guest bartenders serving up themed cocktails and raffle giveaways.

In celebration of National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, Awili Spa & Salon, the signature spa at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, will offer custom handmade pink soaps ($12) available in Vanilla Yuzu, Pikake Lavender and Pineapple Espresso. The spa will also be showcasing a special Pink Pedicure Package for $95 which includes the Awili Spa everyday hydration pedicure, hand-crafted pink scrub made by the apothecary consultants, a glass of Rosé sparkling wine, and a mini Pink Deborah Lippmann nail polish to take home. 10% of all proceeds will go to the Pacific Cancer Foundation. Aside from offering custom pink spa offerings, the property will also light their arrival bridge with bright pink lighting for the duration of October.

Grand Geneva Resort & Spa is an award-winning all-seasons resort set on 1,300 acres in the legendary southeastern Wisconsin community of Lake Geneva, just 90 minutes from Chicago and 50 minutes from Milwaukee. The property features 355 guest rooms; WELL Spa + Salon; two championship 18-hole golf courses; The Mountain Top, a three-chair/18-run ski and snowboard facility; 62,000 square feet of meeting and convention space and three restaurants.

This October, Grand Geneva Resort & Spa is partnering with ABCD — After Breast Cancer Diagnosis — to raise funds to help survivors. ABCD is a Milwaukee based organization led by survivors and dedicated to breast cancer support and information.

Grab Your Drive. Help a Survivor – Visit the Golf Shop to purchase a sleeve of pink golf balls for $10 and receive a complimentary bag of 50 pink tees. $5 of your purchase benefits ABCD

Support a Survivor with a Sweet Treat – Dine in Geneva ChopHouse or Ristorante Brissago and ask for the Pink Lemonade Cheesecake with house-made strawberry gelato for $8. $4 of your purchase benefits ABCD

A Reason to Relax — Visit the WELL Spa + Salon any Monday in October and choose the pedicure right for you. Need a reason to relax? 10% of the price of the service will benefit ABCD

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage will adorn the signature pink color into every facet of the arrival experience from shining pink lights on the the entrance of the resort and featuring beautiful shades of pink and cream flowers in the lobby. In addition, the ladies and gentleman of the staff will wear a hint of pink in their wardrobe throughout the month and greet guests with a variety of pink treats from the Concierge Candy Bar as well as offer scrumptious pink-frosting artisan cupcakes in the State Fare Bar + Kitchen for a donation of $1 to be given to charity. The Cure Cocktail will be added to the repertoire of cocktails as the speciality beverage of October, with $1 donated to the American Cancer Society for each drink purchased. To incorporate efforts to raise awareness and support into every aspect of the property, pink stones will be gifted to Spa guests for a fond farewell. Enveloped within the Santa Rosa Mountain range offering striking panoramic views of the greater Palm Springs, The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage offers 244 contemporary guest rooms that feature natural elements of stone, wood and fire, spacious patios, lavish amenities and incredible service to create a relaxing desert oasis.

The world’s most luxurious hotel, continues to show its support for Breast Cancer Awareness month Burj Al Arab Jumeirah by launching a pink-themed campaign and hosting an event to highlight the importance of this worthy cause. Starting from Thursday 1 October 2015, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah will light its sail in pink and join a number of global landmarks participating in the worldwide illumination campaign. The hotel’s sail will continue to turn pink each Thursday throughout the month. For the first time, Burj Al Arab’s Royal Suite will blush pink on Thursday, 22 October, to play host to 20 breast cancer survivors from “Breast Friends” support group in Dubai.

A Great time to go to Casa De Campo is….soon! On September 7-13, 2015,Casa de Campo, the 7,000 acre luxury resort in La Romana, Dominican Republic, is hosting a Holistic Living & Yoga Retreat.Boasting its holistic reputation and a plethora of treatments and sessions waiting to be indulged in, Casa de Campo’s Community Detox invites guests to experience a week of ultimate relaxation and tranquility in the heart of the Caribbean. My husband has been there before to play golf and relax, and he has told me it’s one of his favorite resorts and destinations.

Starting at $315.57 per night (based on double occupancy, not including $130 mud and juice cleanse or $450 full detox fee), the week-long Holistic Living & Yoga Retreat will feature a variety of options for guest rejuvenation, including hip baths, meditation and yoga, detox massages, a bonfire dinner, and juice, herbal colon and mud cleanses. Check out the schedule below. It sounds awesome!

Spanning 45 lush acres of gardens, nature trails, meticulous olive groves, and casitas, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa is ideal for the premier active lifestyle and healthy retreats for even the most discerning travelers. Seeking to inspire resort guests, wellness was a major initiative during Rancho Valencia’s recent $30 million renovation. In addition to resurfacing all 18 on-property tennis courts, The Spa at Rancho Valencia and fitness center were expanded with a new line-up of fitness classes, spa treatments and wellness programs. The resort’s fitness center was further expanded with the addition of a 1,000-square-foot Serenity Yoga Pavilion that now hosts numerous Yoga sessions, fitness classes, exercise programs and retreats hosted by top-tier fitness and wellness professionals. Rancho Valencia’s fitness offerings include Spin, Pilates, Tennis, TRX and Yoga in the new Serenity Yoga Pavilion. Fitness classes are complimentary for spa and resort guests and are all concluded with a fresh cold-pressed juice or protein shake.

In addition, Rancho Valencia offers monthly yoga workshops focusing on different topics each month. Throughout each workshop, Yoga Director Anna Spalding, will offer various tips on yoga, mind and body. The workshop is open to all levels and is complimentary to spa members and $40 for non-members.

Twin Farms is an all-inclusive Relais & Chateaux property and the only five-star resort in Vermont situated on lush meadowlands in Barnard, VT. Each accommodation is unique and the culinary program is incomparable to anywhere else in the Northeast. Set amidst 300 acres of meadows and woodlands, Twin Farms just unveiled a new yoga deck and programming that is perfect to visit this fall to witness stunning New England fall foliage. The new programming includes a variety of yoga practices including Sunrise yoga, Gentle Flow Yoga, Restorative Yoga and yoga hikes. In addition to yoga, TRX Suspension Training, SMR Foam Rolling, Core-Balance-Stretch and Strength Training are now offered on property. The TRX Suspension Training uses a suspension apparatus as well as calisthenics to induce a complete body workout and incorporates light to moderate strength training couples with various core and balance exercises.

In addition to the new yoga deck, Twin Farms offers an incredible wellness program with its Spa Facility, which is for the exclusive use of Twin Farms’ male and female guests. Custom designed treatments include hydrotherapy, luxuriant facials, rejuvenating manicures, pedicures and exquisite multi-layered body treatments. The signature line of Out of the Woods spa products are handcrafted in Bath, England. These botanical preparations are made with plant-based extracts, organic herbal infusions and pure essential oils.

Park City, Utah is the ideal destination for the adventurous traveler looking for activities other than skiing. Washington School House, the hip town’s newest luxury boutique hotel, offers guests one of the most unusual winter activities with Park City Yoga Adventures with yoga deep inside the 10,000-year-old crater at The Homestead Resort. The instructor demonstrates yoga poses from the dock while guests move and bend on paddleboards that float in the 90-plus-degree natural therapeutic pool.

Washington School House is an exclusive Park City boutique hotel where you can expect… well, the unexpected. As one of the last surviving schoolhouses built in 1889, the hotel graduated to a new level of luxury in December 2011 with the completion of a stunning renovation.

Known for its award winning 20,000 sq. ft. spa, Mayflower Grace offers a variety of yoga classes for guests including Power Yoga Basics, Mayflower Yoga Flow and Gentle Yoga Flow. The Mayflower Spa offers highly personalized destination wellness programs, a la carte spa services, classes and activities for guests in the spa building as well as throughout the 58 acre estate. Located in the idyllic town of Washington, CT, Mayflower Grace is an exquisite country retreat nestled on beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland, just 2 hours from New York City. The 30-room luxury hotel is surrounded by 3,000 acres of nature preserve, boasts an award winning 20,000 sq. ft. spa and two restaurants.

Find your center of balance and peace this National Yoga Month, at the beautiful Mulia & Villas in Bali. The award winning resort provides guests with Hatha yoga, Sun Salutation yoga, Vinyasa yoga, Ashtanga yoga, and Savasana yoga complimentary with their stay. Guests can experience classes each day throughout their stay at the Mulia. For the more experienced guest, private classes are available at the Mulia for a fee. The stunning coastline of Nusa Dua provides the perfect setting for your yoga experience.

Release your mind and connect your body and spirit with the moon and sea energies on this unique yoga retreat. Luna y Mar Spa’s Yoga Getaway includes the following: Two private yoga classes at the beach palapa – 60 minutes each and One moon meditation and night yoga at the beach palapa – 90 minutes

Moon mediation is a healing and regenerative process, and utilizes a specific breathing pattern that clears the mind, revitalizes the physical body, and balances emotions with the lunar and sea energies. Maximum physical and emotional benefits, along with expanded states of awareness, are the natural products of increased oxygenation that Moon Meditation breathing and yoga on the beach brings.

Yoga first soared in popularity at Rancho La Puerta and throughout North America almost simultaneously. Although there were many sources of new yoga programs in the United States in the mid-20th century, leader Indra Devi (whom many credit as being the most influential yoga teacher of the time) was at the Ranch as well as their sister spa, the Golden Door. She even opened her own yoga retreat center next door to Rancho La Puerta. Rancho La Puerta offers a variety of yoga classes including Restorative Yoga, Yoga/Fundamentals Level One and Two, and Yoga Sculpt. The Ranch also offers unique fitness retreats covering a wide range of exercise specialties led by fitness enthusiasts from all over the world. Examples include:

Gentle Yoga in November 2015 – The teachings and time tested practices of Hatha Yoga, Ayurveda and Vipassana Meditation to create a dynamic and integrated practice, that help us lead healthy, happy and effective lives. Each class is unique, based on a theme related to body, mind and spirit.

Bar Method in November 2015 – The Bar Method™ integrates the fat burning format of interval training, the muscle shaping technique of isometrics, the elongating principles of dance conditioning, and the science of physical therapy to create a revolutionary new workout that quickly and safely reshapes your entire body.

What’s on your bucket list? Better yet, where would you want to be Earth Day today? Here’s my answer…. The Allison Inn & Spa, located in the heart of Oregon’s wine country and less than one hour drive from downtown Portland, is the only luxury destination resort in the Willamette Valley and one of the few hotels in the world with LEED Gold Certification. The Allison offers 15,000 square feet dedicated to health and wellness, featuring a swimming pool, fitness studio and spa that uses organic and local products in its treatments.

To celebrate Earth Day 2015, the Allison Spa invites guests to join them April 20-23 for a rejuvenating spa experience to receive 15% off any service* of choice as well as a complimentary lavender (placed in a bio-degradable container) cultivated from jory soil.

In addition to its Spa, key ‘green’ features at the hotel include solar hot water, photo voltaic cells (generating 7% electricity), no usage of plastic bottles on-site, and the installation of sedum ‘green eco-roofing’ on the west wing. The resort also recently enhanced its innovative garden-to-table cuisine by installing a new greenhouse and expanding the on-site garden to 1.5 acres for Executive Chef Sunny Jin’s Oregon wine country cuisine menu at the award-winning JORY restaurant. Chef Jin’s background includes stints at the globally celebrated restaurants The French Laundry, El Bulli, Spain and Tetsuya, Sydney. It doesn’t get any better than this!

To spice up workout routines, Grand Geneva has added POUND® classes to their workout schedule. POUND® / Fit Ball fuses the most challenging series of core, leg and upper body conditioning moves with cardio interval training, and most importantly – fun. During this class, guests will use the fit ball as a large drum, using a set of fit sticks to turn into a calorie-torching drummer – pounding off the pounds as each song flies by. Grand Geneva also offers Body Pump, Cycling, Tabata, Piloxing, Zumba, Step Hit Up, CariOMG and Aqua classes.

2. If you head to Mexico, you’ll also dance to the beat of your own drum at Rancho La Puertain Tecate, Mexico:

A Ranch favorite, Cardio Drumming is an upbeat, fun workout that has fitness goers burning calories by using drum sticks and workout balls, as they sweat it out during a choreographed dance routine. Guests get a full workout as they pound out a beat and find their rhythm to the high-energy mix. No drumming experience necessary.

This heart-pounding fitness class gets you moving to a beat you may have not known is inside you. This class uses principles from movement therapy, music and sound therapy, fitness and rhythmic education for a mind and body workout you won’t forget.

Heading to Germany? If you’re traveling to Germany in 2015 and want to start the year off to a great start head to my top picks for amazing German spa and wellness experiences:

Bavaria Stunning natural landscapes, iconic landmarks and luxe spa hotels make Bavaria a great choice for your next wellness escape. Choose the Bavarian Alps to recharge in beautiful mountain scenery, and with a stay at 5-star Hotel Schloss Elmau, which is welcoming its sister property, Schloss Elmau Retreat in March and will host the G7 summit in June.While in the area, don’t miss a visit to the fairytale castle Schloss Neuschwanstein. Or, head to the nearby Berchtesgadener Land which is part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve and offers such unusual treatments as a hay or whey baths and warm mud treatments.

Baden-Wuerttemberg Glamorous Baden-Baden has been a favorite destination for vacations that combine wellness, culture and luxury since the Belle Époque. Stay at hotel “Der Kleine Prinz,” a cozy, romantic property dating back to 1890 or opt for a suite overlooking the park at Brenners Park-Hotel and Spa, whose restaurant Brenners-Park Restaurant was just awarded a Michelin Star.Many hotels offer their own spa facility, alternatively you may visit one of the public thermal baths, such as the Roman-Irish Friedrichsbad, which opened in 1877 and guides visitors through its 17 stages to well-being.

Baltic Sea The islands and the mainland around the Baltic Sea offer the perfect combination of seaside resorts, a healthy climate, and plenty of wellness facilities. Beautiful small cities with romantic spa hotels such as Schlossgut Schloss Schwansee (a beautiful countryside manor with a spa located in the former horse stables), or the Neptun Spa and Hotel in Rostock, featuring an expansive, 25,000 square foot spa including a pool with fresh Baltic sea water, are more reasons to visit the region.

Thuringia The region in and around the Thuringian Forest in Eastern Germany welcomes R&R-seeking visitors to towns such as Bad Salzungen, where SOLE (salt) treatments have a long history due to the natural saltwater springs, making it one of Germany’s oldest saltwater spas.Located on a peaceful fresh water reservoir, Bio-Seehotel Zeulenroda is Germany’s first organic resort offering a variety of treatments as part of the guests’ carbon-neutral stay.

With August being Family Fun Month, resorts around the world are offering unique family-friendly programs and services that the whole family can enjoy. Whether families prefer to enjoy, line dancing and horseback riding in Arizona, or cooking classes in Mexico, these destinations are sure to bring out the fun in any family vacation. I want to go to ALL of them! How about you?

Located on 60,000 acres nestled between the Rincon Mountains, Saguaro National Park and the Coronado National Forest, Tanque Verde Ranch offers a unique destination for families to unplug and reconnect. Guests of all ages will enjoy the daily scheduled activities taking place from sunrise to sunset, with breaks for breakfast, lunch and dinner, served community style in the dining hall or outdoors at the property’s Cottonwood Grove. Children can take part in a supervised kids programs that include horseback riding lessons, trips to the Nature Center to learn about Arizona wildlife and serene desert surroundings while adults can relax by the pool or indulge in a massage treatment at the ranch’s La Sonora Spa. All-inclusive rates provide accommodations, three-daily meals and access to the ranch’s daily scheduled activities (including what was mentioned above and more), or guests can book special packages and add on activities “a la carte” to better fit their interests and budget. www.tanqueverderanch.com

Kids Stay Free

The Kids Stay Free Package allows kids to take advantage of the following activities free of charge:

Three hearty meals daily

Horseback riding lessons, trail rides and friendly competitions where kids can take on their parents in the arena, such as “Fun”khana and Team Penning

Guided mountain bike and hiking tours, including educational walks such as “Birding for Beginners” and “Pharmacy of the Desert”

On-property Nature Center where guests can learn about the unique animals of the Saguaro National Park from an on-staff naturalist

Fishing lessons, tennis clinics, pickle ball, cowboy cookouts with line dancing and live music, and much more

Highly regarded Kids Program for children ages 4-11. The programs are called Wranglers, Buckaroos and Outlaws, and are broken out based on each child’s age and horseback riding experience. Parents are welcome to join the kids for the day or participate in the other pre-scheduled adult activities if they wish

* The Kids Stay Free package is subject to availability and based on double-occupancy and a minimum four-night stay. Valid for up to two kids ages 4 through 11 until August 31st.

Spanning 45 lush acres of gardens, trails, olive groves, casitas and more, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa is a Mediterranean inspired, all-suite property that offers the finest accommodations, service and programming that San Diego has to offer. In Fall 2012, Rancho Valencia—Southern California’s only Relais & Châteaux property— reopened to guests after a 10-month, $30 million property-wide renovation. Rancho Valencia is located 90 miles south of Los Angeles, 30 minutes north of downtown San Diego and a short drive from the warm and sunny beaches of Del Mar and La Jolla. With its prime location in sunny San Diego, Rancho Valencia is the perfect destination for the whole family to enjoy.

Located a hour south of San Diego, Rancho La Puerta is the original “fitness resort” and spa welcomes some 140 guests each week to its 3,000 private acres of gardens, mountains and meadows in Baja California, Mexico. All facilities and land are for the exclusive use of guests who come for an entire week, Saturday to Saturday, or partial-week stays of three or four nights. It’s a unique escape for guests offering over 80 fitness classes including TRX, yoga, pilates and advanced hiking trails as well as spa treatments and therapeutic sessions. In addition to fitness and spa experiences, the Ranch offers daily lectures and workshops to inspire guests. Each week the Ranch has visiting guest speakers, talented performers and workshop leaders—authors, politicians, musicians, artists, MDs and other leaders in their fields — to present afternoon learning experiences and evening lectures. This summer, Rancho La Puerta will host their third-annual Family Week – Camp Kuchumaa.

At “Camp Kuchumaa,” August 2-9, 2014, Rancho La Puerta opens its doors to families with special activities including:

Hiking and bird watching among the Ranch’s mountains, forests and meadows

A great line-up of presenters and a promise that Rancho La Puerta has carefully planned the week to provide families with opportunities to spend quality time together, active and relaxing, but also with plenty of time for adults and children alike to explore their own programs at their own pace.

The AAA Four Diamond Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa combines quiet elegance with the warmth and rustic details of a quintessential Jackson Hole lodge to create the ideal family adventure. This summer, families can custom-create their own vacation by choosing from some of Jackson Hole’s bundle of right-out-you-door activities including river trips, horseback riding and wildlife tours.

The LEED-Silver Certified Hotel Terra is located less than a mile from Grand Teton National Park and less than an hour from Yellowstone National Park. This summer, families can experience both breathtaking natural wonders with Hotel Terra’s Passport to the Parks package. Perfect for families of all ages, the Passport to the Parks package includes a 7-day park pass to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, guide books and a delicious daily breakfast from Terra Cafe to fuel you for your needs.

In honor of National Fishing & Boating Week (June 1 – 8) and Father’s Day (June 15), I wanted to share a tasty Grilled Salmon with Alyeska BBQ Sauce recipe from Alaska’s premier luxury fishing lodge, Waterfall Resort and the resort’s Chef, Isaiah Phillips. The resort is gearing up for its 2014 season (June 13 – August 18), and offers the ultimate salmon fishing adventure in its unparalleled location in Ketchikan, AK. Waterfall Resortis honoring the occasion by offering 25% off its King Salmon Fishing Package through the peak of king salmon fishing season in June. Travelers will save nearly $1,000 per package, with rates starting at $2,572 for an all-inclusive three-day, two-night stay, available June 19 – June 25, 2014.

A change of scenery always inspires and motivates! Spinning seems more fun when it’s held in a glass tree house with views of the Caribbean Ocean. A quick getaway to Saint Lucia, Turks + Caicos, Puerto Rico or Aruba can offer a refreshing break to help reset your fitness and dietary behavior to get your body fit. Four Caribbean properties have the programming, atmosphere and scenery to help you get in shape for summer. Check out 4 Caribbean fitness getaways.

1. The BodyHoliday, St. Lucia
Get back in shape before swim suit season at The BodyHoliday, Saint Lucia’s all-inclusive premier health and wellness resort. The property gives guests the opportunity to create their own customized fitness itinerary – whether you want to try the “Lose It, Tone It” program, the “Beat the Bloat” program, or simply partake in the unique daily fitness activities, including Spoga (Spin + Yoga) at the new sky-high Tree House spin studio. The resort is also offering unique upcoming fitness retreats, including Jive June, the resort’s dance-a-thon inspired program, and Well Fit Families, a week-long family beach bootcamp designed to challenge and bond families.

2. Gansevoort, Turks + Caicos
Combining your desire to get fit with your love for travel, the “Get Fit” four night getaway for two offers famous exhale core fusion classes in a beachfront open air yoga pavilion, fusion massages in tranquil treatment rooms with a signature spa drink (perfect for those newly-challenged muscles!)

3. La Concha Resort, San Juan
Take your pick of refreshing fitness classes from spinning to Pilates at La Concha Resort, San Juan’s quintessential beach hotel. With the recent launch of its Signature Wellness programs created and directed by renowned fitness expert, Ana Paula Azirovic, guests now have access to classes, team building exercises, personal training sessions and meditation instruction. Ana Paula works directly with business and leisure travelers alike to book appointments and tailor experiences for individual and group travelers.

4. Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino, Aruba
Located on 12 acres of magnificent beachfront property on Aruba’s world-renowned Palm Beach, Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino is the ideal destination for vacationers looking to stay fit. Guests can take advantage of activities offered by Aruba’s premier watersports company, Red Sail Sports, located on property. Options like windsurfing and kiteboarding provide full body workouts–especially challenging the core and arms for balance and control– with twice the fun. For those preferring to stay dry, the boardwalk that runs along Palm Beach is a perfect running path with beautiful ocean views. Plus, guests have 24 hour access to the Hyatt Aruba’s indoor fitness center with treadmills, bikes, and resistance training equipment. Following a workout, guests can treat themselves to rejuvenating spa treatments at the hotel’s ZoiA Spa.